Santa Fe Southern operated excursion trains between the two communities for two decades before the service stopped last year. The company cited the recession and lack of revenue from the passenger business.

According to Santa Fe Southern, the deal with X Train will provide the necessary capital to make the track and equipment operational for the tourist train.

X Train Holdings planned to operate a "party train" between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, but the company said last year that deal fell apart over use of Union Pacific tracks.